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Thirty-five years after the assaults allegedly began, a former Calgary pastor has been charged with sexual crimes against two female parishioners.

The 2012 arrest of a deacon for assaulting three males at the same northwest Calgary Baptist church helped revive the latest investigation, which had been stymied since 1993, said Det. Jeff Klinger.

“One of the victims came forward in 1993, unfortunately there was not enough evidence to proceed,” said Klinger.

“When Mr. Rodman turned himself in, the door opened.”

One-time deacon Russell Rodman was convicted in 2013 for sexually assaulting three males, and child porn charges, and is currently serving a 38-month sentence at the Bowden Institution.

On Wednesday, city police charged Thomas Larry Jones, 69, with 12 sex crimes dating back to 1979, when he allegedly began abusing a girl who was aged five — acts that continued for a decade, say officers.

His other alleged victim, say police, was assaulted by Jones starting in 1986 when she was nine and until she was 18.

Both girls were also students of Jones’ church basement school, said Klinger.

“I would certainly consider a pastor and teacher to be in a position of authority and trust,” he said.

He said the cases of Jones and Rodman aren’t linked, except for their proximity.

“It’s very uncommon to come across two people in the same institution,” said Klinger.

Two decades ago, the investigation into the one girl’s case went cold when the allegations “were addressed by members of the church and the church folded into itself,” said Klinger, adding Jones’ involvement in the church ended in the early 1990s.

Due partly to the allegations, the church collapsed, he added.

The man’s two accusers, now adults, are dealing well with their ordeal and are grateful for the arrest, said the detective.

“They were happy that coming forward gave enough evidence,” said Klinger.

Jones is charged with the indecent assault of a female, four counts of sexual assault, three counts of gross indecency, two counts of sexual exploitation and two counts of sexual interference.

Due to the case’s historical nature, the charges extend through three changes to legislation, which complicates the job of prosecutors, said Klinger.

Calgary police charge former Calgary pastor with sex crimes dating back to 1970s

Thirty-five years after the assaults allegedly began, a former Calgary pastor has been charged with sexual crimes against two female parishioners.
The 2012 arrest of a deacon for assaulting three males at the same northwest Calgary Baptist church helped revive the latest investigation, which had been stymied since 1993, said Det. Jeff Klinger.
“One of the victims came forward in 1993, unfortunately there was not enough evidence to proceed,” said Klinger.
“When Mr. Rodman turned himself in, the door opened.”